Hawks’ Lake has AFL fine overturned

Hawthorn fullback Brian Lake has had a rough conduct charge and accompanying $1500 fine overturned at the AFL Tribunal.

Lake’s representative successfully argued he had not used unnecessary force when pushing Richmond forward Ty Vickery into the boundary fence during Friday night’s match at the MCG.

Vickery kicked a goal from a difficult angle from the resultant free kick in a match the Tigers went on to win by 18 points.

The three-man jury found Lake not guilty after deliberating for five minutes on Tuesday night.

All other players charged during round 18 accepted early guilty pleas.

Having finally returned to the Fremantle side after thumb and groin injuries, fullback Zac Dawson will be sidelined for the Dockers’ next two matches for striking GWS spearhead Jeremy Cameron.

Dawson caught Cameron flush in the nose with an elbow during Sunday’s match at Domain Stadium.

After having his head bandaged to stem the bleeding, Cameron remonstrated angrily with Dawson on his return to the field.

The former St Kilda defender was playing his first senior match of 2015 and will miss upcoming clashes against St Kilda and West Coast as the Dockers seek to lock down a first minor premiership.

Dawson and Cameron were also fined $1000 apiece for engaging in a melee during the final quarter of the 21-point victory by the Dockers.

Geelong star Steve Johnson will have to wait a further week before reaching the 250-game milestone, having accepted a one-match ban for striking former teammate Allen Christensen in the Cats’ comfortable win over Brisbane.

Christensen – playing against Geelong for the first time since his move north – received an at-times torrid welcome from the Cats’ players.

The suspension rules Johnson out of Saturday night’s big home clash with Sydney, which will feature the return to action of Adam Goodes.

The other player suspended from round 18 was North Melbourne defender Michael Firrito, who will miss Sunday’s clash with Melbourne after being cited for striking Carlton ruckman Matthew Kreuzer.

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